Tag: cruise advice

Deb & Matt Chat on YT: We Booked TWO More Cruises! | Anthem of the Seas Sea Day

Day 6 aboard Anthem of the Seas is another sea day, but it turns into a big one!

We start with brunch in the Main Dining Room before heading to Captain’s Corner in Two70, where Matt asks about the possibility of year-round Royal Caribbean cruising in Australia — and the answer gives us a little bit of hope for the future.

What the Captain said https://youtu.be/W1jq8DREnBc

Then Dorothy the Dinosaur arrives for a dance party, Matt gets very distracted while trying to work, and there may be a little Wiggles boogie involved.

After that, we make the dangerous decision to visit the NextCruise desk… and you know what that means. Not one, but TWO more cruises booked!

We also enjoy dinner in the Main Dining Room, more dinner-side magic and science from our waiter Iqbal, and share a handy Royal Caribbean room service breakfast tip, including how to order, what is included, and when extra charges apply.

Check out our live stream from onboard here https://youtube.com/live/kv_7DKxJlDo?feature=share

Finally, the dreaded departure letter arrives — but this time it is not so bad, because we are doing the back-to-back cruise process and staying onboard for the next sailing.

🛳️ Ship: Anthem of the Seas
🚢 Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean
🌏 Cruise: Sydney to Airlie Beach
📅 Day 6: Sea Day

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro
00:19 Sea Day Brunch & Coming Up
01:44 Captain’s Corner: Year-Round Australia Cruising?
03:12 Dorothy The Dinosaur Dance Party
03:52 NextCruise Tips & Reduced Deposits
05:18 We Booked TWO More Cruises!
05:58 Dinner & Captain’s Corner Recap
07:19 Iqbal’s Dinner Table Magic & Science
08:38 How To Order Royal Caribbean Room Service Breakfast
12:32 Back-To-Back Cruise Departure Letter

If you enjoy cruise vlogs, Royal Caribbean tips, cruise news, ship life and real travel adventures, make sure you subscribe and come along for the rest of our Anthem of the Seas series.

#AnthemoftheSeas #RoyalCaribbean #CruiseVlog #CruiseAustralia #NextCruise

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: How to Do Laundry on a Cruise Ship and Save money | Scrubba Wash Bag Review & Tips

How do you do laundry on a cruise ship — especially when there’s no self-service laundry? 🧺🚢

In this video, Deb shows you exactly how we wash AND dry our clothes in a cruise cabin using our Scrubba Wash Bag, travel clothesline, towels and those cruise essentials we seem to carry everywhere… magnetic hooks!

Cruise laundry services can get expensive, particularly on long cruises, back-to-back cruises, Transpacific and Transatlantic crossings or relocation cruises. Being able to wash a few shirts, shorts, underwear and other everyday clothes in your cabin can save money, help you pack lighter and keep you going between proper laundry days.

We’ve been travelling with our Scrubba Wash Bag for around two years, and Deb has now used it across multiple trips. So does she still recommend it? Has it lasted? And, perhaps more importantly, how do you actually DRY everything afterwards?

In this video we cover:

🧺 How to wash clothes on a cruise ship
💰 How DIY cruise laundry can save money
🫧 How the Scrubba Wash Bag works
🚿 Washing and rinsing clothes in your cruise cabin
💦 How we remove as much water as possible before drying
🛏️ Deb’s extra-towel drying trick
👕 How long clothes take to dry inside a cruise cabin
🧲 Using magnetic hooks for hanging clothes
🪢 Our portable cruise clothesline setup
⚠️ A few mistakes we’ve learned to avoid!

The Scrubba featured in this video was purchased by us. This video is NOT sponsored — we simply use it when we travel and thought we’d show you our complete process.

This setup is particularly useful for longer cruises, repositioning cruises, Transpacific or Transatlantic crossings, back-to-back cruises and extended holidays where paying to have every item professionally laundered can quickly add up.

Learn how to do laundry on a cruise ship to avoid expensive onboard service fees. This simple method keeps your clothes clean using minimal cabin space.

Packing for a vacation often means bringing limited outfits, but you do not need to rely on the ship’s costly cleaning services. This guide shows you exactly how to wash garments effectively while traveling at sea. By using a scrubber bag, you can handle smaller items right in your bathroom sink without making a mess or taking up valuable room in your stateroom.

We also demonstrate how to set up a portable clothesline to dry your items overnight. This approach is perfect for cruisers looking to pack lighter and save money during their trip. You will see how to navigate the tight quarters of a ship cabin while managing your laundry needs efficiently. Whether you are on a short getaway or a long voyage, these techniques ensure you always have fresh clothes available without the extra expense.

Subscribe for weekly cruise travel tips and hacks to improve your next vacation. Let us know in the comments if you prefer packing light or bringing a suitcase for every possible outfit.

CHAPTERS

00:00 DIY Laundry on a Cruise Ship
00:10 How to Save Money on Cruise Laundry
00:40 Scrubba Wash Bag Features & How It Works
01:55 The Extra Towel Drying Trick
02:40 How to Seal the Scrubba Bag Properly
03:35 How to Wash Clothes in a Scrubba Bag
04:39 Empty, Rinse & Repeat
05:43 How We Rinse Clothes by Hand
05:53 Scrubba Bag Review – Does It Last?
06:45 Removing Water Before Drying Clothes
08:51 How Long Clothes Take to Dry in a Cruise Cabin
09:26 Hanging Clothes in a Cruise Cabin
10:48 Deb’s Cruise Laundry Song!
11:34 Avoid Making a Mess
12:08 Cruise Cabin Sink Tip
12:39 Our Travel Clothesline Setup
13:51 Magnetic Hooks for Cruise Laundry

💬 Do you do laundry while you’re cruising? Do you use the ship’s laundry service, self-service laundromat, wash things in your cabin… or simply pack enough clothes to avoid laundry altogether?

Let us know in the comments!

👍 If you found this useful, give the video a thumbs up and subscribe for more cruise tips, ship tours, cruise reviews, travel adventures and plenty of Deb & Matt chaos.

We’re Deb & Matt Chat — Life, Cruise & Travel.

#CruiseTips #CruiseLaundry #CruiseHacks

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: We Didn’t Expect This on Day 2 of Our Cruise!

Day 2 aboard Anthem of the Seas was meant to be a relaxing sea day… but it turned into something much more!

After a leisurely brunch, we met some wonderful viewers and unexpectedly found ourselves enjoying an open house tour of one of Royal Caribbean’s spectacular Grand Loft Suites.

See what a relaxing morning routine looks like on board in this cruise vlog, we start our second morning feeling rested and refreshed while sailing to our next destination. We explore the ship deck to check the weather conditions before heading inside for a delicious cruise ship brunch. If you are planning a trip or just curious about life at sea, this travel day vlog offers a realistic look at our daily onboard experience.

We also share a quick food highlight, including a warm apple cobbler with ice cream that we enjoyed during our meal. Whether you are curious about the food quality or the general atmosphere on the Anthem of the Seas, this video gives you an honest glimpse of our day at sea.

Subscribe for regular cruise travel guides and updates, and let us know in the comments what ship you are planning to sail on next.
Along the way we discover one of our favourite cruise hacks at Two70 Café, try our luck at Bingo, discuss Crown & Anchor loyalty benefits, encounter some surprising prices, and enjoy some fantastic live music including an Earth, Wind & Fire tribute show.

Of course, no day would be complete without another delicious dinner in the Main Dining Room and a few laughs along the way.

🛳️ Anthem of the Seas
🌏 Sydney to Airlie Beach Cruise
🚢 Royal Caribbean

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro
00:31 Brunch
04:03 Grand Loft Suite Open House
06:30 A Royal Mystery
07:39 Top Tip – Two70 Cafe
09:49 Bingo
10:24 Crown and Anchor Bingo Benefits
15:10 Interactive Art
16:00 Shore Excursions
16:14 Cabin Hints
17:09 Price Shock
19:17 Champagne Fail
20:45 Cruise Live Music
21:23 Deb’s Secret Past
23:10 French Menu Royal Caribbean
26:08 Main Dining Room Starters
29:51 Mains
31:19 Dessert
33:47 Earth Wind and Fire Tribute
34:36 Wrap Up
36:39 Coming Up

If you enjoy cruise vlogs, Royal Caribbean tips and travel adventures, subscribe and come along for the rest of our Anthem of the Seas series!

#AnthemoftheSeas #RoyalCaribbean #CruiseVlog #CruiseLife #GrandLoftSuite

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: We Arrived For Our Cruise… But There Was NO SHIP! | Anthem of the Seas

Welcome aboard Anthem of the Seas!

Our Sydney to Airlie Beach cruise adventure officially begins, but things don’t quite go to plan when we arrive at the Sydney Overseas Passenger Terminal and discover one very important thing is missing…

The ship!

Join us as we travel from Brisbane to Sydney, explore Circular Quay, check out recent airport upgrades, drop our bags, complete embarkation, board Anthem of the Seas and enjoy our first day onboard.

We also visit Windjammer Marketplace, explore the ship, enjoy sailaway from Sydney Harbour, test GIGSKY connectivity, watch aircraft movements around Sydney Airport and experience our first dinner in the Main Dining Room.

Unfortunately, we also encounter a couple of unexpected problems, including damaged clothing and an issue with our cabin shower.

🛳️ Ship: Anthem of the Seas
🌏 Cruise: Sydney to Airlie Beach
🚢 Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean

Anthem of the Seas – Arrival in Sydney https://youtube.com/live/qn9tn2cwieY?feature=share

Sydney Harbour Cruise Ship Sailaway
https://youtube.com/live/KPVIB4nKD48?feature=share

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro
00:22 Late Cruise Arrival
00:42 Brisbane Airport Upgrades
01:32 Sydney Airport Train
01:55 Circular Quay Sydney
03:11 Cruise Bag Drop
04:45 Anthem of the Seas Arrives
05:39 Sydney Overseas Passenger Terminal
08:27 Sydney Light Rail
08:37 Cruise Supplies
10:03 Cruise Embarkation
10:47 Cruise Boarding
12:06 Finding Our Cabin
12:41 Lunch in Windjammer
15:45 GIGSKY Preview
16:21 Plane Spotting in Sydney
17:39 Sailaway
18:18 Warning – Ruined Clothes
20:03 Shower Problems
21:14 Main Dining Room – American Icon
24:31 Starters
28:11 Dinner
31:08 Dessert
33:31 Outro

If you enjoy cruise vlogs, cruise news, ship reviews and travel adventures, be sure to subscribe and join us for the rest of this Anthem of the Seas series.

#AnthemoftheSeas #RoyalCaribbean #CruiseVlog #CruiseLife #SydneyCruise #CruiseAustralia

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Anthem of the Seas Interior Cabin 11703: Full Room Tour

Welcome aboard Anthem of the Seas!

In this first video of our brand-new cruise series, we’re taking you inside Cabin 11703, an Interior Stateroom with Royal Caribbean’s famous Virtual Balcony.

We’ll show you everything you need to know before you book, including the layout, storage, bathroom, power outlets, air conditioning, tea and coffee facilities, room service options, and a couple of little surprises we discovered during our cruise.
This is our first impressions tour Anthem of the Seas cabin 11703 to see what this specific stateroom looks like before you book your next cruise vacation.

If you are planning a trip on Anthem of the Seas, knowing exactly what to expect from your accommodations is essential. This cabin tour of room 11703 walks you through the layout and features, helping you decide if this specific Royal Caribbean room is the right choice for your travel needs.

We show you how to access the space using your Sea Pass card, verifying that you have the correct stateroom upon arrival. Whether you are a first-time cruiser or a frequent traveler, seeing a real cruise cabin setup helps remove the guesswork from your booking process.

Subscribe for weekly cruise room breakdowns, and comment below if you want to see more stateroom tours from this ship.
We also share some practical cruise hacks, including our favourite towel trick, why you should pack magnetic hooks, and what travel adaptor you’ll need.

If you’re planning a Royal Caribbean cruise from Sydney, or you’re considering an interior cabin with a virtual balcony, this review should help you decide if it’s the right cabin for you.

📍 Cruise: Anthem of the Seas
🛳️ Cabin: 11703
🚢 Cabin Type: Interior Stateroom with Virtual Balcony
🌏 Itinerary: Sydney to Airlie Beach

Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:12 Seapass Card
00:53 Entry Area
01:09 Evacuation Card
01:30 Do Not Disturb
01:42 Air Conditioning
02:04 Bring Your Hooks
02:37 Bathroom
03:09 Towel Hack
05:06 Storage
05:21 Hanging Space
06:06 Virtual Balcony
06:56 Power
07:16 Travel Adaptor
07:55 Tea and Coffee
08:31 Room Service
09:17 Cruise Fridge
09:51 Problem #1
11:32 Final Thoughts

If you enjoy cruise tips, travel advice, cabin reviews and live cruise news, make sure you subscribe and join us each week.

#RoyalCaribbean #AnthemoftheSeas #CabinTour #VirtualBalcony #CruiseTips #CruiseReview #SydneyCruise #AirlieBeach #DebAndMattChat

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: The Truth About This Interior Cabin 🚢 Carnival Encounter Room 5236 Review

After spending our cruise in Interior Cabin 5236 aboard the Carnival Encounter, it’s time for our full end-of-trip cabin review.

In this honest cabin review, we break down:
✅ what worked well
❌ what challenged us
😴 the bedding and pillows
🔊 the noise issues
🚿 bathroom practicality
📍 cabin location on Deck 5
⚠ maintenance concerns
🥤 fridge performance and storage

This is the REAL review after actually living in the cabin for the cruise — not just first impressions.

If you’re considering booking an interior cabin on Carnival Encounter, especially Cabin 5236 or nearby rooms, this video should help you decide whether it’s the right fit for your cruise.

👇 Let us know:
What’s the BIGGEST thing you look for in a cruise cabin?

🚢 Part of our full Carnival Encounter Australia Day cruise series:
✔ Embarkation day
✔ Daily cruise vlogs
✔ Cabin tours
✔ Dining reviews
✔ Honest cruise experiences

Subscribe to follow along!

00:00 Intro
00:10 Carnival Encounter Cabin 5236 Review
00:31 Bedding Comfort Review
01:34 Pillows & Sleep Quality
03:34 Fridge Performance
05:38 Maintenance Issues
06:21 Bathroom Review
08:27 Cabin Location on Deck 5
09:37 Noise Problems 🚨
10:43 Final Thoughts & Wrap Up

#CarnivalEncounter #CruiseCabinReview #CruiseTips #CarnivalCruise #CruisingAustralia

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Carnival Encounter Family Friendly Australia Day Cruise

It’s Australia Day aboard the Carnival Encounter 🇦🇺🚢

In this final full day of our long weekend cruise from Brisbane, the ship really came alive with classic Aussie-themed activities, deck games, trivia, entertainment and plenty of fun.

From morning trivia and lunch at Waterfront Restaurant, to ice carving, thong throwing competitions, afternoon drinks, dinner, parties and evening shows — this was a fun-filled sea day onboard Carnival Encounter.

🎥 In this vlog:
✅Australia Day celebrations at sea
✅Morning trivia sessions
✅Sam I Am / Dr Seuss fun
✅Lunch at Waterfront Restaurant
✅Ice cream eating competition
🍦✅Ice carving demonstration
✅Thong throwing competition 🇦🇺✅Afternoon drinks onboard
✅Dinner review
✅Evening entertainment and shows

This is part of our full Carnival Encounter Australia Day Cruise Series from Brisbane, including embarkation, cabin tours, dining, entertainment and honest cruise experiences.

👇 Let us know in the comments:What’s the MOST Australian thing you’ve ever seen on a cruise ship?

Chapter Markers

00:00 Intro
00:19 Australia Day on Carnival Encounter
00:45 Morning Trivia
03:50 Sam I Am Dr Seuss Fun
04:13 Waterfront Restaurant Lunch
09:04 Ice Cream Eating Competition 🍦
09:31 Ice Carving Demonstration
10:05 Thong Throwing Competition 🇦🇺
13:15 Afternoon Drinks
14:28 Dinner on Carnival Encounter
20:40 Evening Shows & Entertainment
21:48 Final Thoughts
22:46 Jessie & James
#carnivalencounter #AustraliaDay #CruiseVlog #CarnivalCruise #CruisingAustralia

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Carnival Encounter Cruise Cabin Tour by a Teenager 5236

Something a little different for this cruise… 👀

While sailing on the Carnival Encounter, Noah decided he was taking over — and giving his own cabin tour and first impressions of our Interior Cabin 5236 (Deck 5).
Join us for an exclusive cruise room tour of cabin 5236 on Carnival Encounter, with a special guest host! This cruise vlog provides an in-depth look at the cabin’s features, offering a comprehensive cruise cabin tour. See every detail, from the closet to the entertainment system, in this detailed cruise cabin review of our Carnival cruise experience.

This is a teenager’s perspective on cruising — honest, unfiltered, and a bit of fun.

In this video:

🛳️Full tour of Interior Cabin 5236
🛏️Triple/Quad cabin layout (3 people staying)
👀What a teen actually notices in a cruise cabin
😍Space, comfort and practicality from a younger perspective
🤔First impressions vs expectations

If you’re cruising with kids or teens, this might give you a completely different perspective on what matters in a cabin.

👇 Let us know in the comments:
Should Noah do more videos like this?

🚢 Part of our Carnival Encounter Australia Day Cruise Series:
✔ Embarkation day
✔ Daily cruise vlogs
✔ Dining reviews
✔ Cabin tours & tips

Subscribe to follow along with the full series!

00:00 Intro
00:22 Carnival Encounter Interior Cabin Tour
01:00 Storage
01:32 Life Vests
01:44 Cruise Shower
02:50 Sahving
03:28 Room Safe
03:59 Mirror and Lights
04:18 Air Conditioning
04:33 Important Paper Work
06:05 Cabin Power Sockets
06:29 Drinking Water
07:00 Bunk Beds
08:03 Recharge your devices
08:21 Reading lights
08:28 Master Switch
08:51 Fridge for Drinks
09:11 4 Berth Cabin
09:42 Bloopers

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Carnival Encounter Cruise SNAFU | Breakfast, Confusion, Show & Deck Party

Welcome back to our Carnival Encounter Australia Day long weekend cruise series.

In this Day 2 cruise vlog, we share our first full day at sea aboard Carnival Encounter — and it turned into a real mixed bag. From a medical evacuation / passenger retrieval situation, to more onboard confusion around activities and theme nights, this was a day with a very unusual feel.

Join us on our first full day at sea in 2026 as we share our morning routine, including essential cruise travel tips for breakfast at the waterfront. We’ll show you how to navigate the check-in process, offering useful cruise tips and tricks for a smooth start to your day. Stay tuned for more cruise news and updates from our Carnival cruise adventure!

We also take you through breakfast, Meet the Officers, dinner in the main dining room, a bit of a dessert fail, and wrap up the evening with cruise entertainment and a deck party.

In this video:

Breakfast on Carnival Encounter
News of a medical evacuation at sea
More communication confusion onboard
Meet the Officers event
Main Dining Room dinner review
Main meal and dessert thoughts
Carnival entertainment and deck party
Honest thoughts on Day 2 of this cruise

This series follows our Australia Day long weekend cruise from Brisbane on Carnival Encounter, including cabin tours, embarkation day, dining, entertainment and honest first impressions along the way.

If you enjoy real-world cruise vlogs, ship reviews and Australian cruise content, make sure to subscribe to Deb & Matt Chat.

#CarnivalEncounter #CruiseVlog #CruisingFromBrisbane #CarnivalCruise #CruiseReviewWelcome back to our Carnival Encounter Australia Day long weekend cruise series.

The topics we cover in this video – Carnival Encounter, carnival encounter review, carnival cruise australia, carnival encounter cruise from brisbane, medical evacuation cruise ship, cruise ship medical emergency, carnival encounter dining, carnival main dining room, carnival encounter entertainment, cruise deck party,

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Some things Felt Wrong on Day 1 | Carnival Encounter Embarkation

Welcome aboard the Carnival Encounter for our Australia Day Long Weekend Cruise!
We are so excited to be in Brisbane for an “Aussie Classics” cruise on Carnival Encounter! Join us as we kick off this Australia Day celebration with a sail away party. This cruise vlog will cover all the fun, from activities to food, offering cruise travel tips along the way.

This is Day 1 – Embarkation Day in Brisbane, and honestly… something felt a little off.

In this vlog, we take you through the full boarding process at the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal, explore the ship, and share our first impressions – including a surprisingly quiet atmosphere for a long weekend sailing.
In this video:

✅Cruise boarding process in Brisbane
🤔Impressions of Carnival Encounter
⁉️Why the ship didn’t feel full
🤯Confusion around cruise theme nights
🍴Specialty dining bookings (what we chose!)
🛌A possible cabin mistake
🤩NEW onboard changes (including Bonsai Sushi Express)
🚢Sailaway party vibes
😋Dinner at Trattoria Restaurant
👀First look at onboard activities

This cruise already had some surprises… and it’s only Day 1.
Let us know in the comments:
Have you ever been on a cruise that just felt… different?
This is part of our full Carnival Encounter series:
✔ Cabin tours
✔ Daily cruise vlogs
✔ Food & dining reviews
✔ Tips, tricks & honest experiences

Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss what happens next!

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Carnival Encounter Cabin Tour 5236 | Interior Quad Room Review & First Impressions

Welcome aboard the Carnival Encounter! 🇦🇺

In this video, we take you inside Interior Cabin 5236, a quad-share cabin where we’re staying with three people during our Australia Day long weekend cruise.

This is our first impressions + full cabin tour, where we show you:

What the space is REALLY like with 3 guests
Bed configuration and layout
Storage options (and limitations!)
Bathroom setup and usability
Our honest first thoughts on comfort and practicality

If you’re considering an interior cabin on Carnival Encounter, especially for multiple guests, this is a must-watch before you book.

🚢 This is part of our Australia Day Cruise Series, so make sure you subscribe and follow along for:
✔ Daily vlogs
✔ Food & dining reviews
✔ Entertainment and onboard experiences
✔ Final cabin review at the end of the cruise

👇 Let us know in the comments:
Would YOU stay in an interior cabin with 3 or 4 people?

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Deb & Matt Chat on YT: Royal Caribbean Just Changed Their Australia Strategy – Here’s How

Royal Caribbean has officially revealed its 2027/2028 Australia & South Pacific cruise deployment — and we’re breaking it ALL down.

We’re here to discuss the 2027-2028 Royal Caribbean itinerary for Australia! This video breaks down the specific ship details, departure days, and what’s missing from the schedule. Join us for some essential travel tips and cruise news as we share our predictions and thoughts on this exciting australia travel update. We’d love to hear your feedback in the comments!
In this full studio analysis, we dive deep into:

🚢 Which ships are coming to Australia (Anthem & Voyager)
🌴 South Pacific itineraries, ports & destination trends
🇳🇿 New Zealand cruise offerings (and the BIG catch)
📊 Cruise lengths, sailing patterns & departure days
🔁 Island double-ups and itinerary strategy
😮 What surprised us… and what disappointed us

We also take a closer look at:

⁉️Lelepa updates (and what’s missing…)
⁉️Inclusions vs expectations
⁉️Royal Caribbean’s strategy for the Australian market

If you’re planning a future cruise — or just love cruise news — this is your ultimate breakdown of the 2027/28 season.

👇 Let us know in the comments:
Would you book one of these itineraries?

🎥 Chapters
00:00 Intro
02:19 Royal Caribbean Australia Overview
07:20 Ports and Destinations
08:36 Island Cruise Doubles
10:42 New Zealand Destinations
11:23 Lengths of the Cruises
11:42 Anthem Sailing Length
12:07 Voyager Sailing Lengths
13:23 Departure Days
16:21 The New Zealand Catch
17:29 Surprises
18:37 Lelepa Downsides
19:02 Lelepa Inclusions
20:28 Final Thoughts

👍 Don’t forget to LIKE & SUBSCRIBE for weekly cruise news, reviews and deep dives.

#DebAndMattChat #RoyalCaribbean #CruiseNews #AustraliaCruise

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